In 1968, London may have been swinging, but Dagenham, England was sweltering. The 187 women working in the machinists section of the Ford automobile plant would strip to bras and slips to deal with the heat as they stitched together upholstery for car seats. It wasn't easy work, but because Ford had recently re-classified it... Continue Reading →
'Rabbit Hole' Delivers Gut-Punch Drama (Review)
Grief is a river that flows everywhere at once. As tremendously kind and empathetic as it proves to be, the basic premise of "Rabbit Hole" may be off-putting. So let's describe it initially in these terms: a husband and wife must come to grips with the possible dissolution of their marriage, due to circumstances beyond... Continue Reading →
'True Grit': Modern Cool Meets the Authentic West (Review)
It's the voice. Charles Portis created Mattie Ross in his novel "True Grit," first published in 1968, and it's the authentic voice of Mattie -- righteous, forceful, Scripture-quoting, judgmental -- that gives the story such a distinctive flavor. She's an old woman in 1928, writing about the events that occurred after her father was shot... Continue Reading →
Opening Wide: 'Little Fockers'
The poster for "Little Fockers" that we saw at AMC Northpark last night proudly displays pictures of the stars: Robert DeNiro, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Jessica Alba, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, with two young children in the lower left. The all-star cast is a big selling point of the third film... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Thursday (4/15) – 'Obselidia'
"With new things becoming old in months instead of years, I just want to slow things down a bit." George's speech and manner make him seem like someone from a different era; that he works as a librarian but spends his days cataloging things that are obsolete might make him seem like a kook. George... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Wednesday (4/14) – 'Lemmy'
DIFF begins down the final stretch, and it just gets better every day. "I'm not qualified to do anything else." Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski's documentary on Motorhead front man Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister is not so much a fully-realized personal history or detailed portrait as much as an intense love fest. Lemmy takes a tour... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Tuesday (4/13) – 'Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child'
Director Tamra Davis' early works may have included music videos and films like Billy Madison and Half-Baked, but it turns out her passion project was always nearby, tucked away in a drawer: a feature-length interview with her friend, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Just months before his death, Davis filmed the painter in a casual setting, talking... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Monday (4/12) – 'My Queen Karo'
Following a winning weekend of films, DIFF charges ahead with new entries and second screenings of many seen in the last few days. My goal will be to provide commentary on at least one outstanding film a day...I can't promise just one, and I can't promise outstanding either, actually, but we're getting off to a... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Sunday (4/11) – 'Lovers of Hate,' 'Earthling'
I'm considering calling the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival "Internationale!", spoken with the exclamation point. It's still a mouthful, but it's fun to say. "There is something special about every kid." "Bulls**t!" A queasy comedy of disdain, Brian Poyser's Lovers of Hate is about two brothers and the woman they both think they want. Rudy... Continue Reading →
Dallas IFF: Saturday (4/10) – 'No Crossover,' 'We Are the Sea,' 'American: The Bill Hicks Story,' 'The Red Chapel'
DIFF continues strong... "Allen is the best guy you could want for the 2 hours of the game...for the other 22 hours, you're going to have grey hair." No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson is a deeply personal documentary from director Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Stevie), who reflects on his hometown of Hampton, VA,... Continue Reading →
Dallas Film Weekly 